How do you know what is true?

A vaper’s guide to finding real facts about E-cigs

Figuring out who to believe is not always easy… especially when you are dealing with an issue as divisive as E-cigs. Electronic cigarette usage is one of those topics that everyone has an opinion about, but it is also one of those topics about which there are as many different opinions as there are people!

Some will tell you that they are bad, some will tell you that they are good, some will say that they should be illegal, some will tell you that they are dangerous, some will tell you that they are totally harmless… the list goes on and on.

So how do you know who to believe? Or better yet, how can you find out the truth about E-cigs for yourself?

This is a great question, and unfortunately there is no set-in-stone answer. You can, however, utilize a few different principles as you do your research. These principles should help you to wade through the less reliable information and focus on the facts that will help you to make the best decision for you.

Be mindful of the source

Did you hear or read something about E-cigs that caused your ears to perk up? You are not alone. News, new research, information about new laws, gossip, hearsay, and misunderstandings get thrown around every day in conversation in almost unlimited quantities. It can be difficult, however, to separate what is true from what is not—and as it turns out, the best rule of thumb is to ‘check the source.’

Where did you hear this information? Was it from a reliable source that you can trust, or was it from a source that can tend to give false information?

Trust only articles that cite or link to valid references

This is a big one! With so many people using the internet for research nowadays, it can be easy to take for granted that everything online is true, when it fact this is definitely not the case. So how can you be sure that the article in question is valid and legitimate?

The biggest thing is to look for citations/references to actual scientific studies and/or links to actual scientific data. If you can find studies published in peer-review journals or on official/trustworthy websites then you can be pretty sure that what you are reading is, indeed, true and accurate.

You should also make it a point to avoid or discount articles that give seemingly scientific facts without reasonable explanations, cited sources, or links to reference material. Of course, some very good articles don’t cite references. But it is also possible to come across a seemingly brilliant article that is, in fact, full of misinformation.

If you read something interesting that doesn’t have references with it, try looking online for the source of the information so that you can verify its authenticity.

Do not trust personal opinions or supposed science from individuals on forums or supplied in comments to articles, etc.

Comments and forum posts can be especially bad sources of information, mostly due to their unverified nature. Absolutely anyone can post on forums, and most forums are mostly unregulated where non-factual content is concerned. Of course, one of the great things about these types of sites is that they offer the freedom to express one’s individual views and beliefs, but when it comes to science you should always double check and verify what you hear to ensure that what you have heard is indeed true and not just someone’s unverified opinion.

Use common sense and logic

Of course, very few things can take the place of common sense and logic when it comes to research. There was once a quote that said ‘truth needs no defense because it defends itself’, and whoever said it seemed to understand perfectly how easy it is to separate truth from non-truth if you are willing to put a bit of effort into it.

When it comes to something as crucial as your health, you definitely cannot afford to take chances based on what other people are telling you. Do your own research, find actual scientific data to base your choices on, and keep researching until you have formed a real, valid, and educated belief on the subject.

In the end, your health and your safety should be your foremost concern. Of course, we believe E-cigs to be a safer, cleaner, and all-around better choice than analog cigarettes—but you shouldn’t take anyone’s word for something like this until you have thoroughly researched the subject yourself.

About The Author

NicoleIt's my passion to do the research about familiar to me topics, especially when it comes to electronic cigarettes and the whole vaping industry as such. I hope you will find my content useful and when / if you do - please do share it! I will appreciate it! :) See our ''Who We Are'' page to find out more about me and my colleagues. Thanks and I look forward to your comments and feedback.